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HeartStone Ranch Wedding – Skylar & Megan

by Cheryl on January 27, 2012

HeartStone Ranch is one of the newest private estate wedding locations in Santa Barbara and we were excited to photograph the first wedding there! Skylar and Megan picked this beautiful spot for their cocktail hour and reception.

First, Megan got ready at a separate private home with all of her bridesmaids surrounding her.

bride getting ready for her heartstone ranch wedding

bride laughing with bridesmaid before her heartstone ranch wedding

bride with bridesmaids putting dress on before her heartstone ranch wedding

bridesmaid buttoning bride's wedding dress

groom smiling looking in mirror before his heartstone ranch wedding

We then headed over to her family’s church at Our Lady of Mount Carmel located in Montecito. A gorgeous church where they decided to have their wedding ceremony.

bride with father walking down isle of church

Overwhelmed when seeing his bride walk through the church doors for the first time, Skylar couldn’t hold back his tears. It was such a touching moment I got a little teary-eyed myself!

groom crying at alter while watching bride walk down isle

groom and bride hugging while parents look on at church

groom smiling at bride durring wedding ceremony at the church

bride and groom sitting together durring wedding ceremony

bride and groom holding hands smiling at their wedding ceremony

bride and groom kiss in church at their wedding ceremony

bride and groom walk down isle after wedding ceremony

After the wedding ceremony and family portraits completed at the church, we headed over to the HeartStone Ranch for pictures of the two of them and the bridal party. Everywhere we turned at this location their was a beautiful background, we loved it!

bride and groom kiss on path at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

Hearstone ranch bride and groom under trees after their wedding

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple holding rings out in front of them

groom kissing brides hand at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple kissing beneath veil

bride looks back at her groom at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

groom kisses brides forehead under veil at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

bridal party walking down pathway at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

This is what the HeartStone Ranch looks like from the lawn below where Skylar and Megan set up tables for the main meal to be served. Cocktails, dancing and dessert all took place up on the expansive terrace in front of the house.

Heartstone Ranch Wedding reception overview

I loved Megan’s use of old beer bottles for the table numbers.

recycled bear bottles hold flowers at a Heartstone Ranch Wedding

Guests found their table by looking for their names on this gorgeous seating chart that fit in so well with their HeartStone Ranch wedding.

escort cards at a Heartstone Ranch Wedding

After taking their wedding pictures all around the HeartStone Ranch, Skylar and Megan were introduces as Mr & Mrs Gauss!

bride and groom announced at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

They then went straight in to their first dance as a married couple.

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple first dance

Later, a mariachi band played during their cocktail hour.

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple dance to mariachi band

bride dances with friend at her Heartstone Ranch Wedding

mariachi guitar player at Heartstone Ranch Wedding

At sunset, we grabbed Skylar and Megan for a few more pictures of the two of them around the HeartStone Ranch, which turned into some of our favorite wedding pictures of the day.

bride leads groom walking through Heartstone Ranch

groom kisses brides neck at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple embrace and about to kiss

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple walk down driveway

Heartstone Ranch Wedding couple kiss in middle of driveway

Heartstone Ranch bride and groom portrait at their wedding

groom caries bride and kisses her at their Heartstone Ranch Wedding

We had a blast with Skylar and Megan and can’t wait for our next HeartStone Ranch Wedding. Feel free to contact us here if there’s anything we can do for you.

Heartstone Ranch Wedding at night

 

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Before I knew I was going to be a wedding photographer, and before I married Tim, my girlfriends and I would flip though wedding magazines gushing over the latest dresses and of course offering up our critiques as we planned out our weddings far in advance. I never would have guessed as I skimmed though The Knot magazine that someday my pictures would be used in their “real weddings” section!

To this day it blows me away that Tim and I get to see our work featured in a magazine that is such a staple for brides across America. The latest issue we are excited to see our work in is The Knot Florida’s Spring/Summer 2012 issue. If you happen to live in Florida, check out pages 91-94 to see the spread from Charles & Stephana’s destination wedding, which I’ve also posted more on here.

our wedding photography published in the knot magazine

Stephana worked endless hours to bring together her “vintage Florida” wedding theme. She self designed their dinner menu that was printed onto napkin wraps for each place setting.

stephan and charles wedding photography published

She provided upside-down crates, with varying heights, for the centerpieces to give each table it’s own unique look.

our wedding photography of stephan and charles published

Being such a talented lady, she also designed her wedding escort cards to look like vintage fruit labels.

stephan and charles wedding photography published

Be sure to check out more of their destination wedding Florida as well.

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When Stephana first contacted us about photographing her destination wedding in Florida, we were super honored. Not only did she attend Brooks Institute while Tim was there, but she’s a wedding photographer herself, so for her to choose us to capture her special day was a huge compliment.

Her and Charles met through Match.com, got married in downtown Orlando Florida at the History Center Court Room and hosted their reception at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market.

Stephana got ready for her wedding at a nearby hotel along with her closest friends and family, opting for a loose updo of curls with a simple cream fabric flower.

bride getting ready for her destination florida wedding

Tim is always looking for creative reflections to capture hair and make-up. I think this one is off of the conference table that was in Stephana’s suite.

bride's makeup being put on at her destination florida wedding

bride's mascara being put on at her destination florida wedding

I absolutely loved her wedding bouquet. I for one, love cooking with fresh rosemary, but I’m also obsessed with it’s scent. Lee Forrest Design used it beautifully to meet Stephana’s requirements for her wedding bouquet to be full of texture without roses.

bridal bouquet for a destination wedding in florida

Stephana wore a statement necklace as a finishing touch to her “vintage Florida” wedding theme.

bride's vintage necklace at her destination wedding in florida

Her only instruction to her bridesmaid’s look on her wedding day, was to pick their own cocktail dress in 1 of 3 colors.

bride walking with bridesmaids to her destination wedding in florida

bride with bridesmaids at her destination wedding in florida

destination bride looking back at bridesmaids before her florida wedding

destination groom with groomsmen before his wedding in florida

groom standing with groomsmen before his destination florida wedding

Stephana is also a very talented graphic designer, she designed her own wedding programs, printed them, rolled them up, tied each with a ribbon and stuffed them in vintage baskets for guests to take.

close up of destination wedding program in florida

Charles wore a tea leaf lei during the wedding ceremony, a custom from his Guamanian heritage.

groom watching bride walk down isle at their florida wedding

bride smiling at groom at their destination florida wedding

bride and groom laughing at altar for their destination wedding

The History Center Court Room made for a grand setting for their destination wedding in Orlando Florida.

bride and groom holding hands at altar of their destination wedding

bride smiling at her destination wedding in florida

bride and groom exchanging rings at their destination wedding

bride and groom kiss at their destination wedding

The traditional wedding rice was thrown as they exited the History Center, these are such fun expressions on Charles’ and Stephana’s faces.

bride and groom exit their destination wedding in florida

bride and groom with wedding party at their destination wedding

Tim drove around downtown Florida with Charles & Stephana for romantic pictures of the two of them, hands down our favorite time of the wedding day, while I headed to the Winter Park Farmers’ Market to capture details Stephana spent many hours creating herself (more on those in our next post).

bride and groom kiss in field at their destination wedding

destination wedding bride and groom portraits in florida

destination wedding bride and groom sitting on bench in florida

destination wedding bride and groom walking holding hands in florida

bride and groom laying on grass kissing after their destination wedding

bride pulling groom while walking at their destination wedding in florida

Charles is a big time Orlando Magic fan, so Stephana surprised him by having Paul Porter (the arena voice for the Magic) announce their grand entrance at the wedding reception. This was originally Charles’ idea, Stephana said she’d look into it but then told him that Paul was already booked on their date. Charles was bummed, but he got over it and meanwhile Stephana secretly booked Paul.  On the wedding day Charles was amped to hear the voice he new so well from watching his favorite basketball team!

groom hugging paul porter at his destination wedding reception

bride and groom first dance at their destination wedding reception

first dance of bride and groom at their destination wedding in florida

groom dipping bride at their destination wedding reception

Tim and I love destination weddings and had a blast in Florida. Charles’ and Stephana’s wedding was so much fun to be a part of, definitely be sure to check out her work at Sona Photography as well!

 

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